Knitting machine



Oct. 22, 1940. F. G. wElsBEcKr-:R

KNITTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 5, 1937 Patented Oct. 22,1940

I UNITED sTAT's PATENT oFFlcE Hosiery Patents Incorporated,

corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 5, 1937, Serial No. 173,011

18 Claims. (Cl. 66-126) The present invention relates to improvements in lmitting machinery, and more particularly to improvements in the yarn carriers which lay yarn along the sinkers and needles of straight knitting machines.

A yarn carrier of the type to which the present invention relates, is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,014,341, dated September 10, 1935. That patent explains the usual operation of yarn carlo Ariers in a straight knitting machine. My prior patent also discusses certain problems which arise during yarn laying movement of yarn carriers, and which are solved by both the invention oi that patent and the invention disclosed herein.

'I'he present invention is in a yielding or flexible guide associated with a yarn carrier for laying the yarn thereof along the sinkers and needles of' a straight knitting machine.

It is one of`the objects of this invention to provide a yielding, yarn carrier guide lwhich requires no inner lining for the protection of the yarn passing through the guide.

Another object is to provides. yielding, yarn carrier guide which is not likely to catch or cut the yarn passing therethrough in a yarn laying movement. A further object is to provide a yielding, yarn carrier guide which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. $0 Another object is to provide a yielding, yarn carrier guide which has pronounced wear-resisting properties.

A still further object is to provide a yarn carrier guide with a flexible characteristic which as may be easily controlled and determined in the manufacture of the guide.

Another object is to provide a flexible, yarn carrier guide with its exibility limited to only a portion of the length of the guide. y A further object is to provide a one-piece, yield ing, yarn carrier guide to serve as the'sole means for guiding the yarn at the yarn laying end of the yarn carrier. l

Other objects will appear from the following description, the appended claims, and the accom- Panyins drawing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a yarn carrier provided with a yielding yarn guide embodying the present invention. Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, are side elevational and end views, on enlarged scale, of the yielding yarn guide shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, are side elevational f and end views of a different form of yielding yarn guide embodying the present invention.

, form of this invention.

Fig. 10 shows a modied form for the tIp of yarn carrier guide.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a complete yarn carrier comprising a supporting l. arm II and a yielding yarn guide I2 embodying the present invention. The supporting arm I, according to usual practice, may be of rigid construction. The yielding yarn guide I2 may be of y any material suited to the purposes of this inu vention, although steel or some other metal is preferred. A plurality of these guides I2 may be formed by cutting tubular stock into cylinders of the desired length, and providing each cylinder with two or more helical slots I3 in its walls to I0 secure the desired flexibility. The slots I3 may be formed by a cutting operation, and their number, extent and pitch are chosen to secure the desired flexibility in the completed yarn guide.

If desired, a nexible yarn guide according to Il this invention may be secured by cutting a single, continuous helical slot Il through the walls of a guide tube I5, asshown inFig. 4.

Another form of guide tube embodying this invention may be secured by cutting one or more Lslots I6 along planes normal to the longitudinal axis or a tube I1 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Another form of this invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. According to these figures, the guide tube is formed by a helical coil 2l of metal- I5 lic vribbon or ilat wire, the convolutions of which are in spaced relation. One end 20 or the Figs.

8 and 9 guide may be tapered if desired, as shown in the drawing. The spaces between the convolutions in the areas Il and 2li are filled with 40 suitable material 24. This material is preferably metal and may be incorporated into the tube walls in a welding operation. Consequently, the

guide tube of Figs. 8 and 9 will have continuous.

integral, imperforate walls in the areas I8 and 5 20, anda single, relatively short, helical slot l22 for the area I9.

The extent of the slotted area along the guide tubes is indicated at I9 in the figures. The slotted area may have such extent as will secure the desired results. Generally the slotted area I9 will not extend overl one-half the length of the guide tube. According to the preferred practice of this invention, the extent of the slotted area I8 is not over one-third of the tube length, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Only a limited extent for the slotted area is is required in actual practice of this invention to provide the desired flexibility. A limited extent for the slotted area I9 oers the advantage that while the guide tube has sufcient exbility to prevent damage in the event of the guide tube striking a sinker or other part of the knitting machine, it still has enough rigidity under normal operating conditions to lay the yarn properly and avoid imperfect knitting.

Each guide tube is preferably slotted so that the intervening strips or bands, for example, see strips 26 in Fig. 2, have a non-circular cross-sectional shape. This non-circular shape is found to increase the rigidity of the guide tube, while still providing sufficient flexibility in event of collision between the guide tube and a part of the knitting machine.

The interior surfaces or bores of the four forms of guide tubes shown in the drawing are preferably smooth so as not to interfere with the feeding movement of yarn passing through the guide tubes. Should it be necessary, the guide tubes may have their interior wall surfaces ground or smoothed by a machining operation.

As a further step in the manufacture of the guide tubes, they may have their lower end portions E hardened to improve their Wear resisting characteristics. Experience shows that the tube ends Z@ are subject to greater Wear by the yarn in yarn laying oper-ations than are the guide tube portions iii and i9. The hardening operation may be carried out by means of a conventional process involving heat treatment and chilling. The tube portion i9 should be protected during the hardening of portion 2d, so that it (portion i9) does not lose its exible characteristic.

While only the guide tube of Figs. 8 and 9 is shown with a 'tapered end portion 2G, it will be understood'that the corresponding portion of the other guide tubes may be provided with the same a shape. If desired, the end portion 26 of the guide tubes may be somewhat ilattened to provide an oval shaped end as shown at 23 in Fig. 10. The portion iii of the guide tubes is preferably somewhat longer than guide tube portion Z. This portion l@ constitutes the inlet end of its guide tube and is rigidly secured to supporting arm il, as shown in Fig. 1, by welding, soldering, or in any desired manner. The guide tube portion 2li may be relatively short and constitutes the outlet end oi its guide tube,

The ends oi' the slots in the guide tubes may be rounded, as shown for example at 25 in Figs. 2, 4 and 6, so as tc further avoid sharp corners, in which yarn passing through `the tube might be caught.

The terms tube and bore are used generically in the foregoing description and the appended claims to cover cylindrical and other shapes which are suited to the purposes of this invention and which Will accomplish the desired end.

it will be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative, and that the invention includes all embodiments coming'within the scope of the appended claims.

What E claim is:

l. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a tube to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn oi said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, said tube intermediate its ends having one or more slots Vextending through its walls, at least one end of said tube being without slots `and having a smooth bore.

2. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a tube to cooperate with said carrier' and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, the ends of said tube having imperforate walls and a smooth bore, said tube intermediate said ends having one or more slots extending through its walls.

3. For use in a yarn carrier of Astraight knitting machines, a tube to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, each bf the ends of said tube having Walls of integral formation in both a circumferential and longitudinal direction, each tube end also presenting an opening -iree of irregularities, said tube intermediate said ends having one or more slots extending through its walls.

4. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a tube to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, said tube having a continuous helical slot extending through its walls and terminating short of at least one of its ends.

5. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a tube to cooperate with said carrier and iorm a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, said tube comprising a cylinder having end and intermediate portions, said cylinder also having one or more slots extending through its Walls and confined to said intermediate portion.

6. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a tube to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, said tube having a series of disconnected slots extending through its f walls.

7. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a tube to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, said tube having at least one slot extending through its walls and out on a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the tube.

8. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting l machines, a tube to cooperate with said carrier i and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, said tube having a plurality of disconnected helical slots extending through its walls and spaced longitudinally of ting machines, a tube to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, the ends of said tube having imperforate walls and a smooth bore, said tube intermediate said ends having its walls slotted to provide one or more strips connecting said ends, said strips having a non-circular crosssectional shape.

l1, For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a guide tube to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of a knitting machine, at least a portion Yof said tube intermediate its ends being relatively resilient for yielding movement to permit the tip end of the guide tube to ride over an obstructing sinker during yarn laying operations, said guide tube being adapted to be held in the carrier with said resilient portion free to flex for said yielding movement, and the outlet end or tip of said tube being of relatively inflexible construction and more wear-resistant than said flexible portion, said tube being free of internal shoulders and projections.

12. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a substantially cylindrical tube to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine; said tube having end portions with imperforate walls and smooth interior surfaces, having at least one of said end portions of relatively rigid construction to serve as a yarn laying tip, having an intermediate portion of relatively resilient construction to permit lateral yielding movement of said yarn laying tip relative to the other end of said tube, and being free of internal shoulders and projections.

13. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a substantially cylindrical tube to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine; said tube having end portions with imperforate walls and smooth interior surfaces, having at least one of said end portions of relatively rigid construction to serve as a yarn laying tip, having an intermediate portion comprising resilient convolutions to permit lateral yielding movement of said yarn laying tip relative to the other end of said tube, and being 'free of internal shoulders and projections.

14. In a yarn carrier for straight knitting machines, the combination of a supportingyarm, and a substantially cylindrical tube supported by said arm for laying the yarn thereof along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine; said tube having end portions with imperforate walls and smooth interior surfaces, having -at least .one of said end portions of relatively rigid construction to serve as a yarn laying tip, being iree throughout its length of internal shoulders and projections, being relatively resilient intermediate its ends, and being so supported by said arm that said resilient portion may flex and the yarn laying tip may be deflected in event of the tube engaging an obstruction during yarn laying operations.

15. In a yarn carrier for straight knitting machines, the combination of a supporting arm,

and a substantially cylindrical tube supported by said arm for laying the' yarn thereof along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine; said tube having end portions with imperforate walls and smooth interior surfaces, having at least one of said end portions of relatively rigid construction to serve asa yarn laying tip, being free throughout its length of internal shoulders and projections, having an intermediate portion `thereof comprising resilient convolutions, and

being so supported by said arm that said resilient portion may flex and the yarn laying tip may be deflected in event of the tube engaging an obstruction during yarn laying operations.

16. For use in a yarn A"carrier of straight knitting machines, a guide for cooperating with said carrier and forming a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, said guide comprising a tube having adjacent portions at at least one end thereof bonded togetherby fusion joint, and having the tip of said tube end of integral solid wall formation, said tube having at least its intermediate part of flexible construction and being free of internal shoulders and projections.

17. For use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines, a guide for cooperating with said carrier and forming a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of the knitting machine, said guide comprising a tube formed of coiled wire, the adjacent convolutions of said wire at one end of said tube being bonded together by a fusion joint to provide a yarn laying tip of integral solid wall formation, said tube having at least an intermediate part thereof free to yield in event of said tip engaging an obstruction during use of the tube in a knitting operation, said tube also being free of internal shoulders and projections.

18. Fbr use in a yarn carrier of straight knitting machines; a substantially tubular yarn guide to cooperate with said carrier and form a yielding means for laying the yarn of said carrier along the sinkers and needles of a knitting machine; said tubular yam guide having at least an intermediate portion thereof formed of relatively resilient construction, having a gradually tapered section intermediate its ends whereby one guide end has a smaller outer diameter than the other guide end, having its larger end of substantially cylindrical shape, having imperforate walls and smooth interior surfaces for its opposite ends, and being free throughout its length of internal shoulders and projections.

Famke. 0-== 

